Former middle school gym teacher pleads guilty to statutory sexual assault charges

When she was first arrested in May 2019, Rochelle Cressman was charged with 66 felonies and misdemeanors stemming from the sexual assault of one of her students between September 2018 and April 2019.

According to Pennsylvania State Police, Cressman had a "sexual relationship" with her then 13-year-old student about twice a week and had repeatedly told the child "to not tell anyone of the relationship and threatened to harm herself and him if anyone were to find out."

After agreeing to a plea agreement on Tuesday, November 10, Cressman pleaded guilty to three counts of statutory sexual assault before Crawford County Court of Common Pleas Judge Mark Stevens.

As a part of the plea agreement, the remaining 63 counts will not be prosecuted by the Crawford County District Attorney's Office.

Each count of statutory sexual assault is a first-degree felony and carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in jail and a $25,000 fine.  Under the plea arrangement though, prosecutors have agreed to recommend between six and 12 years in prison.  The possibility of a $75,000 fine remains.

After serving her sentence, Cressman has agreed to 10 years of probation and will remain on the sex offender registry for the rest of her life.

Cressman will be sentenced at 8:45 am on February 16, 2021.  While Stevens scheduled her sentencing, he mentioned that while the sentencing agreement in which prosecutors agreed to not recommend more than a 12 year sentence must be taken into consideration, the judge alone has the power to sentence.